"Perilous" ONCE UPON A TIME

Article originally published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review "Siege Perilous" on Seat42F.

ONCE UPON A TIME - "Siege Perilous" (ABC/Jack Rowand) JENNIFER MORRISON, MICHAEL COLEMAN

This week’s ONCE UPON A TIME, “Siege Perilous,” finds several characters dealing with sneaky types. David (Josh Dallas) bonds with Arthur (Liam Garrigan) while on a quest, but is the bromance mutual? Emma (Jennifer Morrison) seeks to reignite her relationship with Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), but he’s reluctant to get involved with the Dark One. And Mr. Gold (Robert Carlyle) finds himself facing the darkness once inside of him.

You can tell Jane Espenson wrote this episode because even where the larger arcs don’t quite make sense, she makes it work by getting into the complexity of the characters. I often complain about ONCE UPON A TIME failing to follow through or taking short cuts with stories, and some of that is present in “Siege Perilous.” But Jane, always talented and with an extraordinary strong grasp of the players, seems to reign it in the craziness, remarkably managing to make some of the weak spots gel, and deliver an overall enjoyable episode. Any flaws present are likely not her fault, and the solid performances absolve the cast of wrong-doing, as well.

The story in which David accepts not only a seat at Arthur’s Round Table, but the primary seat, for the knight of purest heart, could easily be hokey. After all, David is a hero who has been through a lot and should see through such a blatant ploy. And the fact that Lancelot (Sinqua Walls), whose rumors of death have been greatly exaggerated, tells Snow Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) the truth means that Arthur won’t trick the couple for long, making the ploy meaningless.

However, the way “Siege Perilous” approaches things is to play up David’s best qualities and show he he longs to be something more than just a charming face. This David is insecure as to who he is, so Arthur nudges him perfectly in order to manipulate his emotions. Arthur presents himself as a like-minded individual to David from a similar background, so David assumes Arthur is like him and immediately trusts the king.

All of which makes Arthur a great villain, especially scary as he forces a loyal aide to drink poison. ONCE UPON A TIME hasn’t really targeted David for quite awhile, and by making him the one easily fooled by Arthur, it sets David up to be the hero of the season. I think he can rise to the occasion, and Arthur is a worthy adversary, clearly smart and capable. I’m not sure what is behind Arthur’s motivations, but at least it feels surprising and interesting to have David go up against him. And how about that scene with David in the truck? Pretty cool, eh?

The other bad guy this season is Emma, of course. She tries to pretend she’s not all bad towards Hook. Rumple’s affections for Belle (Emilie de Ravin) always shone through when he was the dark one, so it’s believable that Emma would still want the former pirate.

One might wonder why Hook doesn’t go for Dark One Emma, given his villainous past. The only reason he seems to change is for Emma, so why not change back when she turns? The thing is, though, Hook fell for Savior Emma, not Dark Emma. He knows Savior Emma is in there somewhere and considers her in need of a rescue. In that context, it makes sense for Hook to resist this woman.

The plot in which Emma intends to make Gold pure enough to pull the sword from the stone is very intriguing. Gold has been a poorly-handled character for awhile now, but the removal of the Dark One gives him a chance for a complete reset. For him to become a hero now would not be earned, as it was before his character was ruined, but it could still be a rich way to play him. If nothing else, Belle will finally get the man she deserves, but might she loose interest a bit if Rumple is back to being a coward without an edge?

I am impressed by the way things fall into place in “Siege Perilous.” As I’ve said, I think it would be super easy for certain elements, such as Arthur’s reveal, to not make sense and feel cheap. Yet, in this script, they work, and I came away feeling pretty good about this installment.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Blu-ray Review: 'Once Upon A Time The Complete Second Season'

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Once Upon A Time The Complete Second Season' on Blogcritics.

ABC’s Once Upon a Time, despite a rough start, has quickly become one of network television’s best shows. The Complete Second Season, now available on Blu-ray and DVD, is a great example of the series’ strength, with some of the best episodes to date, and the addition of some intriguing new characters and plots.

As season two opens with “Broken,” the curse has been lifted and everyone in Storybrooke knows they are characters from the Enchanted Forest, though they retain the memories of their time spent in our world. Dealing with these duel identities and finding a way forward, while keeping in mind of the past, is a major push in the second season. With the secrets and mysteries of the first year blown wide open, it’s a reset, and also a source of momentum for the story.

This finding oneself theme is most evident in the villainous characters. We see Regina’s (Lana Parrilla) tragic introduction to magic in “We Are Both,” and she struggles to regain her lost soul in the present, with her love for Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) serving as a life preserver. She backslides throughout other installments, but always finds herself again. She has a long journey ahead of her, but there are hints that she might overcome her flaws.

Similarly, Mr. Gold (Robert Carlyle) wants to be a better person for Belle (Emilie de Ravin), as well as for his son, Bae (Michael Raymond-James), who re-enters the tale in a big way mid-year. This is not an easy road for Gold, as the hold the Dark One and magic have over him is strong. Dangers prompt him to keep his power close, and test his mettle. Like Regina, he is no where near redemption, but that path is open to him.

To replace these two, as Once Upon a Time must have bad guys, we get Cora (Barbara Hershey), a.k.a. The Queen of Hearts, and Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), the former of which is truly evil, and the latter perhaps just misguided, but with some sort of honor code. Later, Tamara (Sonequa Martin-Green, The Walking Dead) and Owen (Ethan Embry), intruders from the world at large, serve a similar dynamic. These four characters illustrate the show’s ability to have both black-and-white roles that serve a purpose, and layered ones that seem realistic, similar to the fairy tale-real world settings. It’s quite impressive.

Once Upon a Time does occasionally suffer from a sprawling cast, especially when Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) are stranded in the Enchanted Forest, dividing the viewers’ attention in too many places at once, but it does strive to keep the core people at its center. To that end, Archie (Raphael Sbarge) and August (Eion Bailey) are demoted to recurring status at the start of year two. They are still present, but don’t necessarily need their own plots very often, pushed back into the larger fabric of the many villagers, some important, some less so, that make the world feel complete.

I would argue Red (Meghan Ory) also belongs in this secondary group, though she is promoted to main character for this season, and may not return at all next year. Belle is a similar situation, yet there have been hints that an increased role might be in store for her, so her upgrade is welcome, if she is well-used in the future. The third new central player, Hook, is not only pivotal often throughout these twenty-two episodes, but a compelling player who fans have rallied behind, so it makes sense to retain him.

Among the stand-out episodes in The Complete Second Season are: “Tallahassee,” in which we meet Tiny (Jorge Garcia, Lost), a kind giant, and see Neal and Emma’s back story; “Child of the Moon,” which reveals the true Red; “The Cricket Game,” in which it appears Archie has been murdered; “In the Name of the Brother,” a story that adds Frankenstein mythology to the universe; “Manhattan,” which brings several central players in New York City; “The Miller’s Daughter,” where Snow battles darkness; “Welcome to Storybrooke,” in which a stranger comes to town in Storybrooke’s first days; and the two-hour finale “Second Star to the Right; And Straight On ’til Morning,” where the town’s very existence is threatened, thieves attempt to take magic out of this place, and the core cast bands together for a hero’s journey into season three.

The special features on Once Upon a Time The Complete Second Season are pretty great. Of the deleted scenes, a couple are wonderful character moments that should not be missed. The blooper reel is genuinely funny. There are several insightful commentaries, including one with the great writer Jane Espenson which is only included on the Blu-ray version. Also exclusive to the Blu-ray is an explanation of Henry’s family tree, which has gotten quite twisted over the years. Plus, there are five minutes with O’Donoghue which should please many female friends.

The best inclusion is a twelve-minute episode of “Good Morning Storybrooke.” Hosted by The League‘s Paul Scheer and Community‘s Yvette Nicole Brown, as fictional characters, it is a parody-like morning show set in the world of the show. While sometimes a little hokey, and not always quite in keeping with the established mythology (a note to Ariel, who isn’t in Storybrooke? Red acting nervous? Gold being too salesman-y?), it does feature many of the supporting ensemble, and is highly entertaining. Plus, there is a fantastic Lost reference, and we finally get to see Grumpy (Lee Arenberg) and Nova (Amy Acker) reconnect!

Lastly, there’s an unnecessary “Girl Power” featurette celebrating the strong women on the show for, um, I guess, people who don’t pay attention, since Once Upon a Time has never made any secret of featuring powerful females. But there may be some very young women out there who appreciate it.

Besides the couple of exclusive features, checking out the Blu-ray version is necessary because of the type of production this is. While not all of the CGI sets look spectacular in HD, the physical places, which are highly detailed, really do. Not to mention the rich costumes and great magic bits, which deserve to be examined closely, as do the amazing emotions that dance across many a face. There is a beautiful, sweeping soundtrack, so to get the crystal clear audio and visual presentation, high definition is a must.

Overall, this is a terrific release, one that will satisfy fans who crave a little more from their extras, and a superb season with some really exciting, moving stories. Once Upon a Time The Complete Second Season is available now.

'Torchwood: Miracle Day' now on Blu-ray and DVD

Last summer, Starz brought BBC's Torchwood back for a fourth series with Torchwood: Miracle Day. A true British/American continuation of the popular U.K. series, the 10 episode season was filmed partially in Hollywood. This week, Torchwood: Miracle Day was released on Blu-ray and DVD in a four-disc set. 


Torchwood: Miracle Day asks the question, what happens if everyone on Earth stops dying? When that actually happens, it prompts Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) to return to Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), and together, they travel across the Atlantic to the United States, where they team up with the should-be-dead CIA Agent, Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer), and his colleague, Esther Drummond (Alexa Havins). Actually, Rex forces this union, but that's just semantics, as Jack is always in charge.

With Torchwood staffed again, they track the cause of this disaster to stop it. And "not dying" is definitely a huge disaster; when no one dies, resources quickly become scarce. The only one who seems able to die now is the previously-unkillable Jack. Governments across the globe have their own (very unpleasant) ways of dealing with the crisis, including rounding up and incinerating the should-be-dead victims. Jack and company decide that balance needs to be restored, with nature instead of bureaucracy making the decisions, and they set out to do so.

Meanwhile, Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman) rises and falls in popularity. Spared from execution just as the "miracle" begins, Oswald becomes an inspirational celebrity. He travels the country, spouting new found belief in "the miracle," aided by sleazy publicist Jilly Kitzinger (Lauren Ambrose). That is, until his benefactors turn on him. And, of course, there is more going on here than meets the eye.

Torchwood is beloved by many of its fans for the relationship between Jack and Gwen. It is present here, just as it had been left at the end of series three. Jack still has to compete for Gwen's attention with her adoring husband, Rhys Williams (Kai Owen), and their baby. But Jack does have the lure of an otherworldy threat around him, and she lives for that danger. The two men in her life accept that Gwen is going to choose both the danger and the stable marital relationship.

Some fans complain that Miracle Day is not as good as the other three Torchwood series. This may be at least partially attributed to the new, global settings and characters. This adventure is still Torchwood in tone and feel, but the new locales and characters are actually quite nice, growing the established world in exciting and unexpected ways.

The moral question of this story is one that cannot be overlooked. Torchwood: Miracle Day asks viewers to put on a value on life. When is it OK to kill someone? What if they don't have to die? How can the species be saved when there is not enough food to go around? Who gets to make these decisions? Who holds the decision makers accountable?

There are also elements of acceptance. Once society is made aware of the horrors their leaders are carrying out, and convinced that there is nothing they can do about it, what will people agree to live with? And where will they turn? These questions and a lot more are posed, but there aren't really answers provided. Not all of the characters agree on what the responses should be. Audiences are tasked with thinking for themselves, always a hallmark of great television.

Instead of grouping all of the features on the last disc, Torchwood: Miracle Day spreads out the extras over all four. On disc one, character profiles are presented for Jack, Gwen, Oswald, and Rhys, totaling about ten minutes in length. They give a little background, as well as explaining some of the motivations in this series.

Disc two has a sixteen minute look at the special effects of Miracle Day. This takes fans behind the scenes at some of the most exciting sequences, including Rex's impalement and Gwen shooting down the helicopter. A lot of green screen and computer-generated imagery is used, to great effect. It is a testament to the talents of the effects crew just how real much of this looks in finished form.

The third disc boasts a half hour 'Behind the Scenes' featurette. Several of the cast reminisce about the infamous helicopter scene, which no one can seem to get enough of. Myles and Phifer gives some insight into what it's like filming across the pond from their norm. Sets are explored, with various elements and connections pointed out. Plot arcs are discussed at length, and actors are praised for their terrific work on the series. Plus, explosions!

Finally, the fourth disc in the set has almost eight minutes of deleted scenes, as well as the "Web of Lies" motion comic written by Jane Espenson and Ryan Scott. The comic follows Gwen in 2007 as she searches for a missing Jack, and has some of the origin story of Miracle Day. In a second story, set during Miracle Day, a young woman (Eliza Dushku) follows the clues her gunned-down brother leaves for her to uncover a startling secret concerning the Miracle.

Blu-ray is a must for Torchwood: Miracle Day. As a sci-fi series, there are a lot of special effects. "The Blessing" alone screams to be seen in high definition. The look just won't be the same on a regular DVD. The colors, especially the blacks, are presented as deep and rich. The details are amazing. The pictures is crystal clear in 1080i. A 5.1 DTS surround sound adds to the experience, with a great mix. The music never overpowers, and dialogue can always be clearly heard. Many of the special features share the visual, but not the auditory, high definition experience.


Will there be a fifth series of Torchwood? One can only hope, as no further adventures have been ordered yet. But for the present, tide yourself over with Torchwood: Miracle Day, on sale now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Torchwood: Miracle Day on Blogcritics.

"Desperate Souls" inhabit Once Upon a Time

     ABC's Once Upon a Time returns from its December break with "Desperate Souls." In fairy tale world, Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle) is a poor man who just wants to keep his son (Dylan Schmid) from being drafted into the army. Unfortunately, the Duke (Michael Phenicie, Angel, Knot's Landing) has the power of the Dark One behind him, which makes Rumpel's plight seem hopeless. Until a beggar (Brad Dourif, Deadwood, Lord of the Rings) tells Rumpel that the power of the Dark One is controlled by a dagger. If Rumpel steals the dagger, he will be able to stop the madness. Rumpel succeeds, but soon learns that by doing so, he makes himself the Dark One, a torment not easily escaped.

     After a rough start to the series, Once Upon a Time has blossomed into quite a show! "Desperate Souls" is a wonderfully complex story about evil, redemption, power, and sacrifice. Rumpel is a sad little man who has no control of his own life, until he turns to a darker power. He doesn't realize the cost of the magic, an ongoing theme in the series, and bites off more than he can chew. Once Upon a Time's central story is of darkness sweeping over good, and the hopeless nature of defeating such an abstract foe. In this, "Desperate Souls" does a great job of capturing that spirit with a tragic tale.

     "Desperate Souls" also provides some surprising back story for a fan favorite character. Rumpel is not the first character to have an entirely different history than has been traditionally known, but his is, perhaps, the most surprising. One always views Rumpel as an imp who plays games with others for his own amusement. Now we learn that it may be desperation and a slim hope of redemption that drives him, not ingrained evil. Is there any way for Rumpel to ever escape his curse, perhaps in a large, self-sacrificial way? Or is he destined to forever be who he is, a troublemaker no one can love?

     The implications of this episode are far reaching. One that might be of serious interest is, where is Rumpel's son? Is he dead, through some fault of Rumpel's? Did he leave his father after seeing the monster Rumpel has become? Is there any chance Rumpel can get his son back, who is his entire reason for living when the back story begins? Also, how much of the real Rumpel is left inside the shell of a body? Is the Dark One completely in control of the host? There is startling personality shift when Rumpel gains his power, and he is certainly not the same person anymore.

     The next piece of Rumpel's past that must be revealed to give viewers an idea of his motivations is what Rumpel's beef with the Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) is. In the real world, Mr. Gold works tirelessly to defeat her. His motivation cannot be purely altruistic, as kindness is gone from the Dark One-possessed man. So does Regina have a hand in Rumpel's son's fate? Might she be the key to getting him back? It seems like these two stories may be intertwined in some unexpected way, and I'm anxious to learn what that is.

     One small point that is kind of fascinating is the lack of power Rumpelstiltskin's name has over him in this incarnation, a distinct departure from his traditional story. It would be tricky to work that element into the type of tale Once Upon a Time chooses to tell, but is it a simple convenience, or is there more to it than that? Only time will tell.

     Back in the real world, the main story of "Desperate Souls" is Emma's (Jennifer Morrison) quest to be the new sheriff in Storybrooke. Not wanting her enemy to have that power, Regina appoints newsman Sydney Glass (Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad) to the position. But Mr. Gold finds a loophole in the town's by-laws that states Regina, as Mayor, only has the power to appoint a candidate, not a sheriff (a distinction that makes no sense, and provides the episode's one glaring misstep). Gold lends his support to Emma, but she is determined to prove to Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) that only by doing good can one truly win.

     Is Emma really the pure hero she seeks to be? Learning that her act of saving Regina from a fire, a move that wins her serious popularity in town, is orchestrated by Mr. Gold, she defiantly calls him out in front of the townsfolk. This wins her the election, which Mr. Gold later says is his plan all along. So she is manipulated, despite her best efforts. How much sway will Gold hold over her now? She already owes him one favor, does her ascent to office mean she now owes him two? He certainly would like to take credit for her win. She can't publicly let him, but now she will always be plagued with doubts and second guesses about whether she deserves to be in the position. Should she resign to cleanse her soul?

     It's also doubtful at this point that Once Upon a Time has a happy ending in store for it's central characters. Sure, fairy tales always do, but the amount of darkness in this story, even before the events of "Desperate Souls," seem overwhelming. Even when Emma tries to be good, she is tainted. She is acting like a hero, but cannot make much headway. It is early in the story, and thus it may be too soon to expect any sort of victory for the good guys, especially after Graham's (Jamie Dornan) tragic murder in the previous episode. But something has got to break soon to give at least a sign of hope to Emma.

     Hope is what some of the characters are getting. Emma's win is celebrated by her friends, including Henry, Archie (Raphael Sbarge), and Granny (Beverly Elliott). They don't know what Emma knows, and so see good things coming to pass. Is their optimism enough to inspire Emma, and to turn the tide for the right side? What would they think to learn that they've all been played by Mr. Gold, someone they fear and dislike? Truth always comes out eventually.

     What's really interesting in "Desperate Souls" is the parallels drawn between Emma and Rumpel. Both are, as the title suggests, desperate souls. Both are seeking to save themselves, their sons, and others, and are thwarted by tricky dark power. Rumpel's ending is obviously tragic, at least for now. Is Once Upon a Time hinting that Emma is doomed for a like fate? Her similarities to Rumpel aren't all encompassing. She is a much stronger person that he was, prior to the incident. Can she avoid making the same mistakes that he did? And might he see himself in her, and thus, possibly lend her a hand where he won't anyone else? Their paths seem destined to run together, but the question remains, in what way? It gives one a lot to think about before next week's episode.

     It's no wonder that "Desperate Souls" is so good, considering it is written by Jane Espenson, of Buffy and Battlestar Galactica, among others, fame!


     Don't miss Once Upon a Time, airing Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Article first published as TV Review: Once Upon a Time - "Desperate Souls" on Blogcritics.

The Plan for Galactica

     Battlestar Galactica: The Plan came out on DVD October 27th. For fans of the recent four season series, this was a worthy side story. For the first hour and twenty-five minutes or so, it just seemed to fill in some gaps from the miniseries and first two seasons, but the last twenty minutes made the whole thing worth it and really gave the story meaning. In those moments, the viewer will see certain Cylons in a whole new light, and understand even more what their intentions were.

      The made for tv movie, that has not yet aired, stars Dean Stockwell as Brother Cavil. The whole thing really hinges on him, book-ended by the death of two of his models. Not only do we get to finally see what he was doing before he showed up on screen, we actually see a version of him that is a bit sympathetic. I have always maintained that he is the only truly evil character in the show, everyone else falling in some shade of grey. In this, there is the evil Cavil, but there is also one who sees the perspective of human love, and understands what is happening to the other Cylon models. It gives the part new meaning, and really allows Stockwell an opportunity he didn't have in the series.

      Also featured are Ricky Worthy's Simon Cylon and Lymari Nadal as Giana. You may (or more likely may not) remember Giana from the miniseries, played by Edward James Olmos's real-life wife. She gets a meaty story that combines with Simon's. All of the other Cylons also show up, though Diana and Tori only briefly, and Ellen only slightly more. None of the other Galactica characters appear to have shot new footage, but there are scenes from the series mixed in, cut seamlessly together. If I had not watched the series, I would not have realized that they were recycled, so well it is put together. There are also some awesome new special effects, and fans will love to see planet-side action just before the series began.

     All in all, this wasn't earth shattering. It couldn't have been. The series concluded very satisfactorily. And if you haven't ever watched the show, you'll be more than a little lost. But for fans who craved just a little more, this does a fine job of giving you that. Directed by Edward James Olmos, who played Adama, and written by Buffy's Jane Espenson, I recommend that fans of the show add it to their Christmas list.